Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus can't believe he is going into the Baseball Hall of Fame

David Andriesen of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer writes about Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus who will be the 32nd winner of the Frick Award and will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday....

David Andriesen

Larry Stone of the Seattle Times also writes about Dave Niehaus and how he is overwhelmed to be in the Hall of Fame with other broadcasters like Vin Scully, Ernie Harwell, and Mel Allen... "Niehaus, his eyes sparkling when they weren't tearing up, kept muttering the same word. "Unbelievable. This is just unbelievable. I know I'm going to wake up, and it's all going to end." ...

Larry Stone

2008 Little League World Series - Fast approaching

It is that time of the year - the 2008 Little League World Series is fast approaching...the link below as all the tournament schedule...

Little League World Series

Bleacher Report - Most unwearable jerseys

Danny Paskas from The Bleacher Report listed the 10 Most Unwearable Sports Jerseys....below are his 10 followed by a few of mine...

10. Any WNBA jersey (just wanted to get that out of the way first).

9. Randall Gay - I don’t think I’m really homophobic, saying that, I don’t even think a gay man would wear a jersey with "Gay" on the back of it. Good for Gay, he already has a Super Bowl ring, and in March, he's headed back to his home state of Louisiana, signing with the Saints for $17.6 million.

8. Bill Buckner - Even after the Sox broke the curse and have won two World Series in the last few years, has anybody really forgiven Buckner in Boston? I don’t think I would take the chance of sporting a Buckner jersey anywhere around the Boston area.

7. Leon Lett - Although he was a two-time Pro Bowler and part of the Dallas Cowboys' three Super Bowl victories in the ‘90s, he will probably be remembered for two real stupid/hilarious plays.

The first play coming in Super Bowl XXVII. Lett recovered a fumble on the 45-yard line and was running it back for a clear touchdown, at around the 10, Leon outstretched his arm with the ball. Not seeing a hustling Don Beebe, the ball was stripped and knocked out of the end zone, which resulted in a touchback. Granted, the play had no effect on the game at all, it must have been really embarrassing for Cowboy’s nation.

The second play came on a Thanksgiving Day game in ’93. With the Cowboys leading the Dolphins 14-13 in the closing seconds, Miami attempted a field goal. During the game, there was a rare snowstorm in Dallas which covered the field. Anyway, the Cowboys wound up blocking the kick.

While his teammates made a circle around the ball and started celebrating, Lett broke through to recover the ball. I don’t know if he even knows what he was thinking, but he slipped on the ice when trying to get it. The Dolphins recovered the ball on the one-yard line. Miami wound up winning the game.

Come to think of it, maybe I would wear his jersey; it would be a conversation starter.

6. Jose Canseco - Do I really have to explain why? Maybe I would wear his twin brother's, Ozzie, jersey, now he was something special.

5. Rae Carruth - He was a first-team All-American wide receiver out of Colorado who was the 27th overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in 1997. In his rookie year, Carruth led all rookie receivers in receptions and receiving touchdowns. He showed a lot of promise. It all came to an end in 1999, when he conspired to commit murder. The victim was Carruth’s girlfriend who was pregnant with his twins at the time. He’s still in jail.

Wearing his jersey would be, let’s say in bad taste? Carruth’s number? 89. I guess it wasn’t the number; Steve Smith seems to be alright with it, unless he conspired in the elimination of running back Stephen Davis. Is it just me, or did he disappear very quickly?

4. Gheorge Muresan - The tallest player ever to play in the NBA. His number was 77, which was in reference to his 7'7" frame. He was named Most Improved Player in the 1995-96 season when he put up solid numbers, averaging 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks. He also gave a riveting performance co-starring with Billy Crystal in the movie My Giant where he played a big guy.

Did anybody ever sport a Muresan jersey? There had to have been, I think I remember them in the stands in his Washington Bullets days. As for me? I don’t like anybody over seven feet.

3. Aaron Rodgers - His jersey will be a novelty item the way things are going now. Will he ever start a game? Just a thought, wouldn't it be cool to see the Packers fans wearing Rodgers' jerseys and the Packers fans wearing Favre jerseys fight? It would be a Green Bay Civil War.

2. Scott Norwood - "No Good! Wide right!" With Norwood’s 47-yard field goal miss, the Giants won Super Bowl XXV. Although he was the Bills all-time leading scorer, he will always be remembered for that kick. I might try to get a Ray Finkle jersey though. Finkle was the kicker based on Norwood in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, for those of you who didn’t get the reference. If only the laces were out, Norwood could be a Buffalo hero.

1. O.J. Simpson - Although the Juice is loose, his jersey isn’t. Pretty funny that his jersey has spent more time locked up than him. That is, until he finally catches the true killers. Then I can finally dust the magnificent shirt off, it just looks weird in my closet. I just can’t get rid of it; he is a former Heisman winner.

That’s the list, I’m sure I left plenty off, such as Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmiero, Maurice Clarrett, etc. Who else deserves to be up here? Everyone, Sound off.

Before I mention a few of my unwearable jerseys, I have to say that if O.J. did not cut Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, I believe his Buffalo, San Francisco and USC jerseys would have been one of the most popular....anyway, here are two of my unwearables...

- Decody Fagg, wr, Florida State - this poor kid has had to go around with the last name Fagg...I will say this, he has to be one tough sumbitch though because he probably was picked on throughout school...

- Jeff George, qb, numerous teams - this guy played for so many teams that it is ridiculous...

- Rusty Kuntz, former baseball player - it is not cool to have the name Kuntz on the back of a jersey..

Brett Favre to file for reinstatement

According to a report in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, it looks like Brett Favre is going to file early next week for reinstatement with the league office...which means, he could be in Green Bay Packers camp...let the fireworks start...

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Casey Blake traded from Cleveland Indians to Los Angeles Dodgers

The Cleveland Indians traded Casey Blake to the Los Angeles Dodgers...The Indians picked up catcher prospect Carlos Santana and Triple-A pitcher Jon Meloan from the Dodgers on Saturday in exchange for veteran third baseman Casey Blake.

Santana, 22, is a slugging switch-hitting catching prospect who currently has 14 homers, 96 RBI and a .323 average at Class A Inland Empire. Meloan, 24, pitched briefly for the Dodgers last year in a September call-up. He is 5-10 with a 4.97 ERA at Triple-A Las Vegas. He was ranked as the organization’s No. 8 prospect by Baseball America entering this season.

Mel Kiper on Brett Favre

An interesting piece about Mel Kiper's ranking and breakdown of Brett Favre for the 1991 NFL Draft...Favre played his college ball at Southern Mississippi...

Mel Kiper

Charles Barkley talks about WNBA fight

Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation gets Charles Barkley's thoughts about the WNBA fight...

Richard Deitsch

Big Ten Media Day - Wisconsin's Lance Smith may be gone

Other tidbits from the Big Ten Media Day...

Herb Gould of the Chicago Sun-Times writes where Illinois head coach Ron Zook wants to take the Fighting Illini next...

Herb Gould

Karen Rivedal of the Madison State Journal writes how former Howland, Ohio star running back Lance Smith may be done at Wisconsin after more off-the-field problems...

Karen Rivedal

Jeff Rice of the State College Centre Times writes about Penn State head coach Joe Paterno who talked about the media and his team's off-the-field issues...

Jeff Rice

Big Ten Media Day - Rich Rodriguez does not countdown until Ohio State

Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press writes the following tidbits from the Big Ten Media Day...

Kirk Herbstreit believes Judas (Justin Boren) did not handle the situation the best when leaving Ann Arbor...

Justin Boren

Rich Rodriguez does not countdown the days until Ohio State, unlike a smug little man in Columbus...

Michigan-Ohio State

A former Appalachian State learns it is different in the NFL...

Appalachian State

Big Ten Media Day - Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez makes it through his first Big Ten spotlight

Doug Lesmerises of The Plain Dealer writes about new Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez and the negative image that has come about in Ann Arbor... "But what about Justin Boren, former Wolverine and new Ohio State Buckeye? The lineman's program-rattling comment about the erosion of family values still sticks in the craw of Rodriguez. "That's the one that upset me the most," Rodriguez said, "because that's what we take the most pride in." ...

Doug Lesmerises

Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch writes how Judas' (aka Justin Boren) comments really hurt Rich Rodriguez... ""That was the one that really upset me the most because that's the one we take the most pride in," Rodriguez said. "Any player who's ever played for us in my 15 years as a head coach will tell you it's just the opposite, not only on our team but also amongst our staff or anyone who's touched our program. We feel that there's nobody that's going to have a family-type unit more than our football program." ...

Bill Rabinowitz

Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press writes how Rich Rodriguez showed confidence at the Big Ten Media Day... "As the only first-year head coach in the conference, one could imagine him sitting back and soaking up the knowledge. But, as Michigan fans have quickly learned, that's just not his style." ...

Mark Snyder

Big Ten Media Day - Jim Tressel "knows nothing"

It is interesting that Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel has a select memory....this is a man who is anal retentive and a total control freak....but when asked at the Big Ten Conference pre-season meeting why junior wide receiver Ray Small was the only scholarship player who did not get a full page in the media guide, Tressel claimed he had no idea...."I haven't pored over the media guide yet."....just like a few years ago when he had "no idea" why his ballot had Ohio State rated number one, when he publicly said he voted Texas number one...

Peoria Chiefs - Dayton Dragons Minor League Baseball Brawl - with photos

A disgraceful brawl took place on Thursday night in a minor league baseball game between the Peoria Chiefs and Dayton Dragons....both managers and 15 players were ejected....ESPN reported that one fan was also hurt and taken to the hospital after being struck by a baseball that was thrown during the brawl....the report below and photos are from the Dayton Daily News...

Brawl breaks out at Dragons game
Three batters hit by pitches before fight
NOTE: If you have video or photos of the brawl, please send them to interact@coxohio.com
By Marc Katz - Staff Writer

Thursday, July 24, 2008

DAYTON — A first-inning four-run rally quickly escalated into a bench-clearing brawl between the Dayton Dragons and Peoria Chiefs tonight at Fifth Third Field that halted play for an hour and 9 minutes.

The game was resumed at 8:51 p.m. after the league office in Beloit, Wis., reversed 17 ejections that were handed down following the brawl, which lasted about 10 minutes.

Dayton shortstop Zack Cozart had to leave the game after being hit in the head with a pitch and Peoria second baseman Gian Guzman went out with a broken left leg.

Trouble may have started in the top of the first when Dayton pitcher Kyle Lotzkar hit the second batter, Nate Samson.

That half-inning ended without further incident, but when Cozart came to bat as Dayton's second batter — with a runner on first — he was drilled in the left side of the helmet by a Julio Castillo pitch.

Cozart fell to the ground immediately and eventually was helped to the dugout, finished for the evening.

Following an out, Brandon Waring then hit a slow roller toward second that Castillo tried to field. Guzman ran up behind him and fell over Castillo, breaking his leg. He had to be removed by stretcher.

That loaded the bases and Denis Phipps hit a pop fly half way down the right field line that bounced sideways into the stands for a ground rule double, scoring two runs. Catcher Devin Mesoraco then singled home two more runs.

Dayton's next batter, Angel Cabrera, was hit with a pitch, reacting angrily by throwing his bat and batting gloves toward his dugout. When Keltavious Jones, Dayton's next batter, hit a grounder to second, Cabrera slid into second, legs high, to break up the double play.

Now Peoria shortstop Nate Samson reacted angrily, gesturing it was too rough a slide.

Castillo then threw a pitch close to Brandon Menchaca's head, prompting Dayton manager Donnie Scott to leave the third base coaching box and complain to home plate umpire Tyler Wilson.

That prompted interim Peoria manager Carmelo Martinez to join the conversation, which quickly became heated, and when Martinez pushed Scott, the benches emptied.

Several fights broke out behind home plate, and Castillo threw a ball that sailed into the stands behind the Dragons' dugout, hitting a fan who had to be taken to a hospital.

Menchaca jumped on Castillo and eventually both managers and 15 players — including eight Dragons — were ejected from the game.

Those ejected from the Dragons were starting outfielders Justin Reed and Phipps, Kevin Feiner (who was taking the place of Cozart), starting catcher Devin Mesoraco and pitchers Henry Arias, Jeremy Horst, Jeff Jeffords and Luis Montano.

Peoria lost five starters, including outfielders Brandon Guyer and Cliff Anderson, catcher Mario Mercedes, third baseman Jovan Rosa and Castillo as well as pitchers Steve Vento and Audy Santana.

Within 45 minutes after the ejections were announced, they were reversed after the Class A Midwest League office heard what happened from the umpires.

The ejections were reversed because the teams did not want pitchers to play the outfield positions, which would have occurred had the ejections stuck.

Walt Jocketty, general manager for the Reds, the parent club of the Dragons, and Terry Reynolds, director of player development for the Chiefs, whose parent club is the Chicago Cubs, made that feeling known to league President George Spelius by phone.

Jocketty and Reynolds happened to be at the game.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.

George Brett Pine Tar Incident - First Hand Account

I got an email from a person who was interning with the New York Yankees in 1983, the year the Pine Tar Incident occurred...Tom from Matawan, New Jersey has this account ...

Pine Tar Incident

George Brett - Pine Tar Incident - 25 years ago today

Twenty-five years ago today was the infamous George Brett Pine Tar Incident...relive one of baseball's most memorable moments...

By Craig Muder

The image remains one of baseball's most iconic snapshots, as fresh in the minds of New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals fans as it was 25 years ago.

With two outs in the ninth and U.L. Washington on first base, Kansas City All-Star third baseball George Brett homered off New York closer Goose Gossage, giving the Royals a 5-4 lead on July 24, 1983. But while Brett celebrated in the Yankee Stadium dugout, Yankees manager Billy Martin walked to home plate and informed umpire Tim McClelland that Brett's bat was covered with more pine tar than the rules allowed. Pine tar, a sticky glue-like substance used to give batters a better grip, hardens over time -- making the bat more effective.

McClelland carefully measured the bat against the 17-inch width of home plate, determined that the bat violated the 18-inch pine tar rule, turned to the Royals dugout and signaled that Brett was out -- ending the game.

An enraged Brett instantly charged McClelland, screaming wildly while being restrained by teammates and Royals manager Dick Howser. But the call stood, the game history.

Or so it seemed.

The Royals immediately protested the outcome, and American League president Lee MacPhail eventually overruled McClelland and ordered the game to be resumed from the point after Brett had homered. On August 18, the teams reconvened at Yankee Stadium, and about 1,200 fans watched as Martin symbolically protested by putting pitcher Ron Guidry in center field and moving left-handed first baseman Don Mattingly to second base.

Martin then protested the game -- before the first pitch to the Royals' Hal McRae -- on the grounds that Brett did not touch all the bases during his home run and that the current umpiring crew could not verify this. But umpire Davey Phillips produced an affidavit signed by the July 24 umpires stating that Brett had indeed touched all bases. An irate Martin was quickly ejected from the game for arguing.

Yankees reliever George Frazier struck out McRae to end the top of the ninth, and Royals reliever Dan Quisenberry pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth to preserve Kansas City's 5-4 win.

This weekend, Gossage will join Brett and MacPhail as inducted members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The pine-tar bat is currently traveling with the Hall of Fame's Baseball As America tour in Boston.

Craig Muder is director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Below is a video clip of George Brett explaining his use of pine tar...

Southeastern Conference - Greatest era of football coaches?

Is this the new era of great coaches in the Southeastern Conference?... "But at this moment, coaching in the SEC "is kind of like being a president," said Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, who has a perfect season yet is barely on the outside of the SEC's current Mount Rushmore of national title coaches. "You age pretty quick in this league because you have no holidays." ...

Birmingham News - Jon Solomon

Gene Gene The Dancing Machine Video Clip - The Gong Show

I have only seen one may ever cause complete chaos while at the same time everyone around having fun...he was a man so focused on his job that no matter what they literally threw at him, shoes, toasters, sinks, human bodies, you could not shut him down...there is only one man who could do that...GENE GENE, THE DANCING MACHINE!!!...with a tip of the cap, Gene would literally make everyone in the audience, studio, and in their homes get up and dance...

So in honor of my 600th posting, sit back and enjoy a clip of Gene Gene, The Dancing Machine on an episode of The Gong Show with Chuck Barris...

Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie, Rick Mahorn involved in WNBA brawl during Sparks-Shock game

There is nothing better than a good fight at an NBA game...what is even better is when there is a good fight at a WNBA game....the Los Angeles Sparks were at the Detroit Shock when a scuffle started between Candace Parker and a Detroit player....in the end, former Detroit Piston Rick Mahorn, who is now an assistant with the Shock franchise, pushes All-Star Lisa Leslie....

Erin Andrews at the ESPYS - Exclusive video at The Big Picture

For the latest Erin Andrews video clip, check out The Big Picture...

The Big Picture - Erin Andrews

GMoney over at The Money Shot is all about Carson Palmer slamming the Suckeyes and Gentleman Jim Tressel...

The Money Shot

The Zone Blitz has a daily update on the Tony Romo-Jessica Simpson love affar...supposedly, Jessical has added 30 pounds...

The Zone Blitz

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!!!!!

Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard) from Monk - Is She Hot?

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Ohio State Buckeyes - Blue Ribbon Preview; Will Beanie Wells lead OSU to title?

Okay Ohio State fans...here is the Buckeyes preview that appeared in Blue Ribbon Yearbook...

Blue Ribbon - Ohio State

Hot Lap Dance Club - The best strippers?

Yesterday I previewed a story that appeared on the front of the New York Daily News about four strippers from the Hot Lap Dance Club who stated their boss would take a "cut" when they would perform sex acts on customers...well, a google search turned up the Hot Lap Dance Club website...it states:

At Hot Lap Dance, they don’t beat around the bush. Brushing aside the traditional agony of watching naked chicks while surrounded by a bunch of other horny dudes, Hot Lap Dance focuses on the private lap dance. Rated as one of America’s hottest locales for sexual escape, Hot Lap Dance is located in a commercial loft space in Midtown Manhattan, and if you know anything about New Yorkers, you can rest assured the nubile girls you meet will have some kind of wild personality to go with their killer bodies. And given its private, more intimate setup, Hot Lap Dance is also one of the finest spots to let it all hang out at your bachelor party."
WARNING - Only adults should check it out this site...

One question - what is a "nubile girl"?????....

Hot Lap Dance Club

Tournament explains Michelle Wie's disqualification

Tournamet director explains Michelle Wie's disqualification...

Springfield State Journal

Texas Longhorns Football - Interesting Facts - From Tommy Nobis to Earl Campbell to the Hex Rally

Today's college football facts deal with the Texas Longhorns...the information was gathered from the trivia book Longhornology Trivia Challenge....here are a Baker's Dozen of interesting facts:

- Tommy Nobis was the first Texas player to ever be taken with the first pick in the NFL draft...Nobis, who played linebacker, was taken first by the Atlanta Falcons in 1966...

- Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell was known as "Tyler Rose"...

- Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry played both defensive back and running back for Texas from 1943, 1946-49...after his first semester at Texas, Landry left to serve in World War II...

- Major Applewhite holds the Texas record for most yards passing in a season...in 1999, Applewhite had 3,357 yards...

- Running back Roosevelt Leaks was the first African-American to earn All-American and All-Conference honors...he was All-American in 1973 and All-Southwest Conference in 1972 and 1973...

- Prior to each home game, Texas players pass by and touch the photo of former Longhorn Freddie Steinmark...during Steinmark's junior year, he was diagnosed with cancer...he died at the age of 22...

- Bill Bradley holds the Texas record for most interceptions in a game...in 1969, Bradley intercepted Texas A&M four times en route to the Longhorns 49-12 win over the Aggies...

- Johnny "Lam" Jones holds the Texas record for most receiving yards in a game...Jones finished with 198 yards in a 1979 game against Baylor...

- Texas has appeared in the Cotton Bowl game 22 times...they have a record of 11-10-1...

- Hub Bechtol was Texas' first two time All-American...he received the honors in 1945 and 1946...

- Prior to each game, the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity displays the Texas flag on the field...the flag weighs 900 pounds and is made of 777 square feet of fabric...

- Following a victory over hated rival Texas A&M, the UT Tower is lit entirely in orange...

- A palm reader started the Hex Rally in which Longhorn supporters gather to put a curse on the Aggies prior to their annual battle...the tradition started prior to the 1941 game...the Longhorns had a long winless streak at Kyle Field and students approached a palm reader to have a curse put on the Aggies...Madam Agusta Hipple told the Texas students to burn red candles for a week leading up to the game - this would jinx the Aggies...Texas won the game...

Below is a 2:28 clip of Texas great Earl Campbell (aka Tyler Rose)...

Dallas Cowboys Training Camp During the 1970s - Staubach, Longley, Manster, and others

Looking for a great read about NFL training camp...here is an interesting story by Frank Luksa who wrote this for ESPN.com...Luksa writes about the Dallas Cowboys training camp during the 1970s and how it differs from today...

Frank Luksa

Michelle Wie's sloppiness leads to her disqualification

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Gwen Knapp writes how Michelle Wie's sloppiness led to her disqualification... "A well-trained golfer doesn't leave the scorers' tent without signing her card, not even for the few fateful seconds that Wie apparently strayed from the area Friday before volunteers called her back. It might seem like a small thing, but that tardy signature spelled sloppiness." ...

Gwen Knapp

The LPGA rule that got Michelle Wie disqualified

The Springfield State Journal Register reports on the stated rule that got Michelle Wie disqualified...

Springfield State Journal

Hottest Cub and White Sox fan contest in full gear

The Chicago Sun-Times is running a Hottest Fan Contest for fans of the White Sox and Cubs...if you think you are hot and a fan of one of the teams, you better check this out...

Hot Fan Contest

In a non-sports story, Barbara Ross of The Daily News writes how a group of strippers from the Hot Lap Dance Club reported that the owner would take a "cut" if he caught them having sex with a client... "Their voices dripping with disgust, two disillusioned lap dancers from a busted midtown strip club described the owner as a pervert who took a cut when he caught his employees having sex with clients." ...

Barbara Ross

William Rhoden of The New York Times writes about Willie Mays and Hank Aaron talking about baseball... "But the most significant part of the conversation concerned the competition between Mays and Aaron. There has been speculation since my childhood that there was longstanding tension between these titans of baseball. Some of it was rooted in the perennial question of the time: Who is better, Aaron or Mays?" ...

William Rhoden

Mike Lupica of the Daily News rips Brett Favre as the latest superstar who refuses to go out with class... "But the more you watch Favre behave this way, which means like a spoiled brat, the more you see him try to make people forget how he has given the Packers everything over a long and compelling career at Lambeau, the more you realize something: A good goodbye is more rare in sports than a baseball player hitting for the cycle." ...

Mike Lupica

Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times writes how White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen needs to worry more about his team's slim lead rather than baiting an opposing relief pitcher... "Last week, as he was striking out Jim Thome and Paul Konerko to end a ninth-inning Sox rally, Wilson gestured excitedly as a lot of closers do these days. He said he was fired up because Guillen was trashing him with dugout insults. Come on down, C.J., and take your profane lumps." ...

Jay Mariotti

New Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn takes on his biggest challenge

Les Carpenter of The Washington Post writes an in-depth feature on new Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn and his previous jobs as a DJ and his love of mountain climbing... "Then, this past winter, he was presented with the greatest experiment of all: the chance to be an NFL head coach. And Saturday, the Redskins reported to training camp with him at the helm." ...

Les Carpenter